SMALL and medium entrepreneurs continue to rely on manual methods in running their business even as technology and business solutions are readily available at affordable costs.
"We have to make them understand that technology is not expensive. It is an investment that they have to make in order for business to grow and be more efficient," Ruselle Trinidad, sales and marketing head of SME Solutions of Planters Development Bank, said in a press conference Friday.
Planters Development Bank is in partnership with business solutions and software provider IBM Philippines and World Bank affiliate International Finance Corporation in pushing for the use of technology as an enabler of SMEs in the country.
"Based on our assessment, there are still very few SMEs who have embarked on technology," Trinidad said.
At present the newly updated website of the SME Toolkit can be accessed at philippines.smetoolkit.org
The website can also be accessed at the SME Technology Center of IBM Philippines at the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Incorporated office along J.P. Laurel Avenue, Bajada.
The technology center was recently upgraded by IBM Philippines in order to make it more convenient for SMEs to use.
"The technology to be shared by the hardware software developer will expose the local SME's to information technology. The system will show IT as a partner, a tool for business growth," Marian Cruz-Hormigos, territory marketing manager of IBM Philippines, said during a roundtable discussion Friday.
IBM has provided a one Blade Server unit inclusive of peripherals and enablement kit, and trainings.
In addition, ICT Davao is also committed to market/promote the SME Center as a training/advocacy tool for Davao SMEs, access to SME Toolkit and other Open Source tools (i.e. IBM Lotus Symphony), and manage and oversee maintenance of their three donated desktop PCs and other IT peripherals.
The SME Technology Center will serve as the heart of the Davao City SME Center as it extends IBM's aim of making a substantial contribution to SMEs especially in cities where IBM's geo-expansion initiatives are concentrated.